Institutions:
Law Abiding Citizen was directed by F. Gary Gray. Production companies include The Film Department and Warp Film. It was shot in Pennsylvania, USA. In the UK it was released on the 27th November 2009, with a gross of £5,737,117 on the 27th December 2009. In the USA it was released on the 16th October 2009 with a gross of $73,343,413 on the 31st January 2010. The budget for the film was an estimated $40,000,000.
Audience:
I think looking at the story line and the violent scences (which are shown through the age rating), this film is not for very sensitive, feint hearted or squeamish. Adults with children may empathise with the main character in that he has lost his family and the viewers could understand his feelings through the tough situation. Although of course the audience may not go to such lengths for revenge if they were to go out for revenge at all. Many other adults may just enjoy the film for it's action and tension, helped by the actors of high calibur in Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler. This film is quite unique in that this kind of story line and technique of violent character has not been seen before, for this, the film has had some good reviews, although still with some flaws. Here is a review from IMDB..
'This is a great idea. A technical genius who is somehow able to commit revenge murders from his jail cell. He doesn't hide the fact he's a killer; in fact he announces each murder just before it happens.
Technically everything was possible and the method very cleverly hidden so I was kept in suspense until the last 20 minutes when the cat was let out of the bag too early. The ending is a let down. It's true Hollywood: Technically improbable, illogical, and in my opinion it spoils all the character development made until that point and wastes the opportunity for a much darker ending with a more satisfying outcome.
All that said I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it to anyone not disturbed by moderate violence. Go see it!'
This review gives compliments towards the idea behind the film. Also the reviewer mentions that the film was successful in creating suspense for them, this shows that, at least from that aspect, it is a good film in fitting in to the thriller genre, as opposed to just providing non-stop action leaving nothing for the audience to work out. Despite its unique aspects, this reviewer suggests that it conforms to the typical 'Hollywood' film in that it is 'improbable' and 'illogical', I think this is true although this sometimes needs to happen to create a good film. Also, after there being so many films released over the years, it is difficult to match or better their quality with a film that is completely realistic with no shocking story lines. Taking into account all of this I think there are aspects of the film that hold realism, not all with regards to the story itself but definitely ideas behind it. For example, crime does leave people scarred and upset such as in the film, but to add effect to enable the film to be a hit, the makers needed to add emphasis on it and build on that idea. In addition, many people find the justice system very flawed and can be angered by it, this is shown in the main character of the film (Butler).
Here is another review from IMDB..
'This is a movie that's extremely fun to watch in the theaters because you get to hear and see everyone's reaction to each of his killings. The best one had people actually saying loudly "wow" and "oh my god!". What drew me to the movie was the fact that the hero isn't going around killing people with his bare hands or face to face. He was doing it with his mind, with careful planning, and deft precision. That was something refreshing to see. I can totally relate to his feelings of anger over the flaws in the justice system and his desire to take matters into his own hands - to make things right. The ending was disappointing but the rest of the film was not and I liked it overall.'
The effect of the film is shown very well in this review as they mention the reactions of the fellow audience. This review also expresses positive opinion as to the uniqueness of the film in the killing technique of the main character. It also reinforces the idea of the audience being able to relate to the emotions of the character after his upsetting experience, this shows that although the reaction to it was emphasised to create the film, it was not done to the extent that would forget the idea and focus on the action, this allows the audience to relate to the emotions of the character. This, along with other reviews suggests that the ending to the film was unsatisfactory, but, I think that it was potent in that it brings the audience back to why it has happened, and disputes a comment made in the first review saying that it was too 'Hollywood', it does not end with a fiery battle and chaos that does not let the provoke emotion in the audience or allow them to think.
Technology:
Being released in 2009, this film has had the opportunity to use modern technology in order to increase the audience's awareness of the film and access to it. Technology also helps to improve the film with regards to such things as CGI which show good effects for the audience. Although it is not used greatly in relation to other films, this helps add to the verisimilitude of the film in that some action does not seem too far fetched. This adds to the effect of the film on the audience in that the situation seems more believable that it would happen in reality, increasing the shock and suspense throughout.
Websites such as Youtube provide the opportunity for the audience to view clips and view comments about the film allowing them to decide upon watching it or to show the film to friends. IMDB is also useful in giving people in depth information about the film, it also has some pictures and clips. Films made before this technology was available will have found it much harder to raise awareness of the film.
Codes/forms and conventions of the thriller genre: The music/sound effects used over the logos of the production companies gives a warm and pleasant feeling. Mainly the first one (Overture Films), the sound effect for The Film Department reminds me of the old fashioned film with an audience sat by a projector, this sense suggests the characters/their situation at the beginning of the film is happy and innocent. Text is then used, chosen by the filmmakers, showing both the previous companies' names. The font is sharp edged and cracked. This implies the innocence and solidity of the situation is, or is going to be in danger of falling apart. This helps create suspense, the suspense aspect shows the film is utilising the common features of the thriller genre. The first image is of a box with various compartments filled with cubes covered in letters and colourful pictures. The box is pink and a hand is over the box which looks like a girls. This image reinforces the idea of normality and happiness in that it is a common hobby of young females to create things, in this case, we then find out in the next shot that she is creating a necklace. The idea of creation connotes ambition and possibly hope. This adds to the innocence and aspiration of this character that we have cleverly been told a lot about already. This impression we have of her allows us to sympathise with her and want her to be safe, adding to the suspense in that due to the change from the happy music to the rough and cracked font then to the picture of the girl enjoying herself, we have a suspicion something bad is going to happen.
We then see someone else making something. Due to the change from bright colours to dark, and the object in the characters hand, we can assume it is male and probably the girls father. Because they are both making something at the same time it shows their bond in that they indulge in similar things and enjoy each others company. Soon after we hear a knock at the door and the mother calling the father. A pleasant family scene is created here with normal things you would expect to see and hear. Although, the multiple knocks that interrupt the conversation of the father and daughter show a disturbance in their home, this suggests their normality and happiness is about to be made unstable.
As the father opens the door the over the shoulder shot changes to a point of view shot of the person looking in. This shows the good family life is being peered in to and vulnerable to these people. Also the music changes, sounding evil and dangerous. The camera shots once the house is breached are quick, this contrasts with the longer lasting shots before the knock on the door, this shows instability and the start of chaos.
When the mother comes through, her scream has been edited so it is echoed. This shows the life that has so quickly changed for them is drifting away, and the hope of both the characters and the audience for the family's wellbeing has nearly non-existent. Also, the picture is now darker, the dark connotes the evil that is now in control of this home. When one of the attackers is on top of the father, the camera is facing up at the attacker with a slight view of the fathers head, this shows the attacker to be in control. This contrasts with the previous shots when an over the shoulder shot of behind the father was used looking at the girl, this showed the father to be in control. This shows the life in this home has been turned upside down. This is very tense for the audience as they hope for the family to survive and are saddened by their sudden switch from a happy and controlled situation to being subordinated.
The sounds such as the sobbing, shouting and the music all fade down low as the camera focuses on the little girl who has just entered the room. She is standing very innocently and timidly, creating suspense for the audience as they know she is about to come to harm and feel sorry for her as her stance and facial expression show she is confused. A point of view shot is then used from the view of the father as one of the attackers walks towards the girl. This is done very well as the fathers view is gradually blocked by the dark figure of the attacker, showing that this sinister character is taking is daughter away from him. As the attacker takes her away, the camera then looks back at the father to help show his despair and desperation for his daughter.
The film, already in the opening, has shown many aspects commonly seen in thrillers, and has done so to good effect. For example, a common narrative amongst thrillers is death, this is shown here as the mother and daughter are killed. Also, linking into the narrative, common characters are victims and criminals, clearly shown in this opening. These things, with the good use of mise-en-scene, camera angles and sounds to create suspense, help to immediately establish the film as a thriller.
Representation:
I think that although it is not a major message of the film, it is implied that women may be weaker than men in that in the opening the man stays alive but the mother and daughter are killed. I think the idea that there is corruption within the justice system is a message trying to be put across with this film. By putting the audience in the fathers situation at the beginning of the film, we empathise with him throughout, because of this we see his point of view more than others and find ourselves agreeing with his idea that the justice system is corrupted. This makes the audience think about this in reality and question the decisions made in courts.
No comments:
Post a Comment